PRESS BRIEFING BY HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN AFGHANISTAN
Press Briefing
PRESS BRIEFING BY HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR IN AFGHANISTAN
19970226
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
At the Department of Public Information (DPI) noon briefing on Tuesday, Alfredo Witschi-Cestari, Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan, reminded correspondents of the International Forum on Assistance to Afghanistan donors, which met in Turkmenistan on 21-22 January. At that meeting, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, United Nations organizations and Afghan organizations in Afghanistan focused on the development of a strategy for the international community to assist the country.
Since that meeting, Mr. Witschi-Cestari said that fighting had occurred in the south-east Afghanistan province of Kunar, which seemed to have been supported by the former governor of Nanghahar, as well as those involved with the smuggling of timber into Pakistan.
Last week, there had been a very serious offensive by the Supreme Council of the North under General Abdul Rashid Dotsum in the north-western area of Afghanistan, Mr. Witschi-Cestari said. Serious bombing had displaced some 5,000 families who would likely go to the city of Herat. However, there were already an estimated 21,000 internally displaced in Herat and the influx of the additional families would present problems for the humanitarian effort. There would likely be enough food for the arriving families, but not adequate shelter.
In the central front, there was the possibility that the Taliban had taken over the key position of Shebar Pass, although there were conflicting report, Mr. Witschi-Cestari said. In Kabul, there were 114,000 displaced persons from the northern province of Kabul. Those people had not been placed in camps, as it was believed that would create a long-term problem. They were currently staying with relatives or friends or in empty houses and public building. Efforts were being made to persuade the Taliban to allow those refugees to return to their place of origin.
The gender issue remained a key one for everyone concerned, he continued. No breakthrough could be reported so far, but talks continued. There were many contradictions in Afghanistan, as in some areas women could work with relative ease in the health sector. There were even some communities where girls had been permitted to attend primary schools. In that context, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) policy there of withholding assistance for educational programme, if girls were not participating, had been the stance adopted by the United Nations in the Taliban-occupied territories, he said.
Afghanistan Briefing - 2 - 26 February 1997
During the subsequent question-and-answer session, a correspondent asked how the arrest of the two French aid workers in Kabul was related to the gender issue. Mr. Witschi-Cestari said that 60 Afghan women were in the Action contre la faim compound, an area where the Taliban believed they were not supposed to be.
A correspondent asked if any alcohol had been served at the party given for the women in the United Nations compound. Mr. Witschi-Cestari said no alcohol was served, but the Taliban had found compact disc recordings, and there was evidence of pictures having been taken, both of which were forbidden by Taliban.
Were there other areas of aid that were being withheld until an agreement was reached with the Taliban over the gender issue? a correspondent asked. Mr. Witschi-Cestari said that all aid was being affected. For example, an important water project that originally involved the participation of women had been slowed.
Were there any indications that the Taliban were rethinking their positions on the gender issue? a correspondent asked. Mr. Witschi-Cestari said there were signs that there might be changes, but it was difficult, as there were conflicting viewpoints about the issue among the Taliban from region to region.
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